Mother Tongue Maintenance-Mother Tongue Development at
Greenfield Community School 2009-2010

Did you know that there are over 30 different languages spoken among students in Greenfield Community School?

Starting in the academic year 2009-2010 Greenfield Community School will start its Mother Tongue Programme.

Why is learning your mother tongue important?

Jim Cummins, Professor at the University of Toronto says:
The mother tongue is very important for bilingual children’s overall personal and educational development.
The level of development of one’s mother tongue is a strong predictor of the second language development.
Parents who are able to spend time with their children and tell stories or discuss issues with them in a way that develops their mother tongue vocabulary and concepts are well-prepared to succeed educationally.

For more information read the full article: http://www.iteachilearn.com/cummins/mother.htm

How will our mother tongue programme work?

We will have mother tongue sessions once a week after school for 40 – 60 minutes.
At these meetings students could discuss, in their own language, what they have been learning at school. In particular (for PYP) what they have been doing in their Unit of Inquiry. With help from the parent leader (and possibly MYP students or native speaker teachers) the students could create a poster, booklet, presentation or report in their own language, on what they are learning. They could then display these around the school.
Each language group could have projects to make their language and culture visible within the school and host events particular to that language or cultural group.
As a parent what can I do to help?
As a Mother Tongue Parent Volunteer you would take a small group of students and encourage them to speak and write in their own language about their work in class. The coordinator would supply you with an overview of what each class has been studying to guide your discussions. You would then help the students to create “something” in their own language about their school work.

But it is not only about WORK – it is mainly about PLAY! One of the main reasons for the Mother Tongue Programme is to allow students to see their own culture within the school and educate others. It is an opportunity to share with the wider school community music, dancing, traditions, food, folktales, games and festivals from your home country. This encourages a sense of pride and acknowledgement that we are all part of an international school.

But I am not a teacher!

Don’t think of it as teaching! Think of it as parenting and guiding children. The children are inquirers and will tell you what they want to learn, so little planning will be involved. Much of what you will teach them will be incidental, for example, “Why do we celebrate...?” or “Why do we say it like that?” And if you don’t know the answer, jump on the internet and find out!

I am interested in supporting this programme!

If you are interested in supporting this programme and becoming a Parent Volunteer you can sign up with the coordinator. We will meet and discuss the days that would suit you to run the programme (Sunday – Wednesday) and we will also provide you with an overview of activities you could do. A teacher will be around for the first few sessions (if needed) to make you feel comfortable.

If you wish to support this programme, but you do not have time to volunteer, you could provide us with resources in your mother tongue (books, games, posters, educational websites for children, etc.). Have a look at your children’s Units of Inquiry in the upcoming academic year and look for books during your summer in your home country. Your children will be proud to share resources in their mother tongue with their homeroom teacher – and they will be able to discuss them during the mother tongue development lessons.
If you wish to hire a native speaker teacher and provide your children (and their language group) with professional tutoring during mother tongue development lessons, it is possible to do so. We can help you get in touch with your children’s language group. Parents can share the cost of tutoring and we will provide the location for the classes.
If you are interested in the programme, want to become a parent volunteer or have any other questions, please email

Katja Steininger